PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Roosevelt Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Power (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Franklin
vs
Power

171 cm
22
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Inexperienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Roosevelt Franklin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Max Power!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Alyssa Summers and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franklin connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Franklin is looking to clinch but Power is avoiding it.

Franklin gets a clinch.
Power drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Power jumps guard but Franklin stands there with Power around his waist. Power gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Franklin.

Franklin breaks the clinch.
Power keeps the fight on the outside.
Franklin throws a nice looking combination but Power bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franklin tries to clinch but Power is having none of it.
Franklin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Franklin throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin fails in his attempt to clinch.
Franklin tries to clinch but Power moves out of range.
Power shoots in but no luck this time.
Roosevelt Franklin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Power.
Power blocks a head kick by Franklin.
Power is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Franklin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Franklin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Franklin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Power shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Power moves out of range of the leg kick from Franklin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Franklin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Power is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Power is looking for a kimura but Franklin is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Power to get the leverage.
Franklin is trying to maintain the position but Power is very close to passing his half guard.
Power is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Franklin doing his best to control the position. Can he escape?
Franklin is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Power goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Franklin is on top in guard.
Power keeping moving, preventing Franklin from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Power pushes Franklin off and gets back to his feet.
Franklin doesn't manage to clinch there - Power circles away.
Power has his takedown stuffed

and Franklin counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Franklin gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Power has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Franklin avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Power looks gassed!
Franklin lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Knees to the body from Franklin.
Franklin prevents the takedown attempt.
Power can't get the takedown.
Power avoiding damage as Franklin throws knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Power fails to pull guard.

Franklin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Franklin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Franklin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Power swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Franklin wants to clinch.
Roosevelt Franklin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Franklin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Franklin wants to clinch.
Franklin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roosevelt Franklin dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Power keeps the fight on the outside.
Power shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Franklin counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Power looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Franklin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Power is keeping the position for now.
Power is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Power has an active guard here but Franklin has managed to pass into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin is controlling the pace.
Franklin prevents Power from improving his position.
Power is staying active underneath Franklin, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Power gets back to full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Power is on top in guard.
Franklin is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Power thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Power pushing down on Franklin's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Power prevents Franklin from improving his position.
Power controlling the action here.
Power seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Franklin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Franklin wants to improve his position but Power is controlling well.
Franklin trying to control but Power postures up.
Franklin is refusing to be controlled, as Power sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Franklin is defending against the submission attempts here by Power.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Franklin throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Franklin tries to clinch but Power is having none of it.
Franklin tries to clinch but Power moves out of range.
Power gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Franklin counters with a single leg into guard. Power didn't expect that.
Franklin tries to free his leg and advance position but Power is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin controls from within his opponent's guard.
Franklin tries to free his leg and advance position but Power is retaining full guard.
Franklin trying to control the position from guard on top but Power is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Power looking to hit a scissor sweep but Franklin is one step ahead there.

Power looking for a guillotine here but Franklin defends easily.

Power looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Franklin passes into side control.

Franklin tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Franklin has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roosevelt Franklin dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Power fails with the takedown

and Franklin counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Franklin tries to free his leg and advance position but Power is retaining full guard.

Power is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Franklin has his hands clasped together but Power extends an breaks Franklin's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Power.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Max Power!